PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Batistuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dee Stroya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carlos Batistuta has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Batistuta
vs
Stroya

182 cm
20
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
218 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Carlos Batistuta!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dee Stroya!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batistuta misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Batistuta swings for the body but Stroya moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Batistuta or perhaps it was just good defense by Stroya which made him look bad.
Stroya takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Batistuta changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stroya looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The strikes coming from Batistuta are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stroya is pushing Batistuta's head away, looking to escape. Batistuta manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Batistuta are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Batistuta fails to land a wild elbow strike.
I wouldn't like to be where Stroya is right now.
Sloppy strikes there by Batistuta.
Stroya tries to bench press Batistuta off him but Batistuta keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Stroya wants to control but Batistuta postures up.
Batistuta wants to control but Stroya is keeping him busy.
Stroya manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Batistuta is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stroya has managed to free his arm - good work.
Batistuta is keen to just control but Stroya is a slippery customer.
Stroya avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Batistuta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta with the ground and pound but Stroya uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Batistuta throws a big elbow that misses.
Batistuta wants to control from the top but Stroya keeps moving.
Stroya is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Batistuta postures up in Stroya's guard and throws a big left but Stroya blocks it.
Batistuta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Batistuta is looking to work some ground and pound but Stroya has wrist control.
Batistuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Stroya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Batistuta with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Batistuta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Batistuta stands up over Stroya, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stroya controlling Batistuta's posture.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Batistuta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Batistuta cracks Stroya with a solid left hand.
Batistuta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stroya's head.
Stroya keeping moving, preventing Batistuta from controlling successfully.
Stroya controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroya not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Batistuta has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Batistuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Stroya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Batistuta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Batistuta looking to pass the guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stroya throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Batistuta on the side of the head.
Batistuta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Batistuta scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Stroya tries a low kick but Batistuta avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Batistuta throws a body punch but Stroya moves out of range.
Stroya connects with a nice looking jab.
Stroya moves out of range of the body kick.
Stroya circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Batistuta dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Batistuta closes the distance and clinches.
Batistuta fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Batistuta tries to pull guard but Stroya forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Batistuta is working for takedown but Stroya is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Batistuta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Batistuta tries to pull guard but Stroya holds him up against the cage and eventually Batistuta drops back down to his feet.
Stroya tries to work over Batistuta's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Batistuta blocking some punches.
Batistuta has Stroya pressed against the cage, preventing Stroya from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stroya creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Batistuta tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stroya.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta prevents Stroya from breaking the clinch.
Stroya tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stroya throws a head punch that misses.

Stroya breaks from the clinch.
Batistuta lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Batistuta misses with a body shot.
Stroya takes one on the button.
Dee Stroya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stroya moves out of range as Batistuta throws a body kick.
Stroya misses with an uppercut.
Stroya lands with a nice body punch.
Batistuta punishes Stroya's body with a nice straight punch.
Batistuta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stroya moves away.
Batistuta doesn't manage to clinch there - Stroya circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta swings for the body but Stroya moves out of range.
Stroya misses the shot to the body.
Batistuta lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Stroya uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Batistuta.
Batistuta just misses with a punch to the body.
Stroya throws the kick towards the body but Batistuta avoids it.
Batistuta shoots in looking for a takedown but Stroya manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Batistuta's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stroya ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Batistuta closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stroya circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some bone on bone action there as Stroya checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Batistuta looks for a takedown but Stroya sprawls well.
Stroya keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Batistuta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stroya manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Batistuta scores with a takedown into Stroya's guard.

Batistuta drops back looking for a leg! Stroya is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stroya manages to kick Batistuta off! Batistuta jumps back into Stroya's guard.
Batistuta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stroya trying to control the position here.
Batistuta with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Batistuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Stroya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroya has Batistuta pulled in close to control his posture.

Batistuta got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stroya has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Batistuta has managed to get both his arms back between Stroya's legs - danger averted.
Batistuta controls from within his opponent's guard.
Batistuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Stroya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stroya controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Batistuta dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Stroya. Batistuta does a little dance to reset his feet.
Batistuta is looking to wear down Stroya with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Batistuta goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Batistuta looks to score with a jab to the body but Stroya is just out of range.
Batistuta looks to score with a jab to the body but Stroya is just out of range.
Carlos Batistuta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Batistuta misses with a low kick.
Batistuta missing with a left hand there. Stroya was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stroya scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Batistuta misses with a body shot.
Stroya checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Batistuta is looking to chop away at Stroya's legs.
Stroya keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carlos Batistuta is winning the standup battle so far.
Batistuta swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Stroya counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Stroya avoids the body shot from Batistuta.
Stroya has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Batistuta.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta swings for the body but Stroya moves out of range.
Stroya lands a body shot.
Batistuta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stroya manages to avoid it.
Batistuta throws a quick inside leg kick.
Batistuta slips a straight right by Stroya.
Batistuta uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stroya.
Batistuta thows a body shot but no joy.
Stroya swinging wildly here.
Batistuta moves in looking to clinch but Stroya pushes him off.
Stroya lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Batistuta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stroya is fending him off so far but Batistuta persists. Nope, Stroya circles away and we're back to standing.
Batistuta changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stroya tries to avoid it but Batistuta manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stroya to the ground. Stroya escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Batistuta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stroya, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta is trying to pull guard but Stroya turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Batistuta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Batistuta tries to pull guard but Stroya won't allow it.
Stroya lands a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stroya working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Stroya throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Batistutas head.
A short left from Stroya.
Stroya has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A nice left hand lands by Stroya.
Stroya lands with a left to the head.
Batistuta wants a takedown but no success here.
A nice left hand lands by Stroya.
The referee is keeping an eye on Stroya - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stroya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Batistuta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stroya misses with a hook.
A good leg kick by Stroya.
Stroya tries to land a front kick but Batistuta steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A looping hook to the body misses from Batistuta. Stroya does a little dance to reset his feet.
Batistuta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Batistuta ducks under a wild hook from Stroya.
Stroya dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Batistuta misses with a body shot.
Stroya does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Batistuta just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta misses with a wild body shot.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Stroya.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Batistuta takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Batistuta takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Batistuta slips under a jab.
Stroya moves out of range of the body kick.
Batistuta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stroya moves away.
Stroya throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Batistuta sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A combination from Batistuta does no damage.
Stroya slips under a jab from Batistuta.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Batistuta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stroya misses with an uppercut.
Stroya throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Batistuta.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dee Stroya really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stroya explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Stroya stuffs the takedown attempt from Batistuta. Batistuta gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Batistuta or perhaps it was just good defense by Stroya which made him look bad.
Batistuta misses with a body shot.
Batistuta just misses with a punch to the body.
Stroya throws a good cross that connects.
Batistuta moves out of range of the strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Batistuta.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Batistuta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stroya uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Batistuta.
A clash of legs there as Batistuta blocks the low kick.
Stroya stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroya misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Batistuta swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Batistuta shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Batistuta thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Batistuta looking to control but Stroya is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stroya is trying to escape the mount.
Stroya is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Batistuta trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Stroya really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Batistuta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stroya is working to get back to half guard.
Stroya is squirming around, avoiding Batistuta's attempts to control the action.
Stroya really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Batistuta avoids the attempt from Stroya to control.
Batistuta working Stroya over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroya tries to reverse the position but Batistuta maintains control.
Batistuta trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Carlos Batistuta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Batistuta lands a big elbow.
Stroya taking shots to the head.
Stroya tries to hold on but Batistuta postures up.
Stroya manages to control the position for a moment.
Batistuta lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Batistuta connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Batistuta prevents Stroya from getting the reversal.
Batistuta landing punches.

Stroya is rocked!
Stroya takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stroya is still in real trouble! Can Batistuta finish him?
Batistuta tries to control but Stroya wriggling away.
Stroya is wriggling around trying to escape.
Batistuta lands a nice shot to the head.
The referee warns Stroya that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Batistuta postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Stroya bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Batistuta and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Carlos Batistuta!
Carlos Batistuta retains his light heavyweight title!
A very excited looking Carlos Batistuta made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.